Novelty jewelry and accessories



Nov. 21, 1939.

E. K. BRADLEY NOVELTY JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES Filed May 2 6,v 1939 1N VENTOR. Ehzabeljzflilfiadlqy, M? W ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NOVELTY JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES Elizabeth K. Bradley, New York, N. Y. 2 Application May 26, 1939, Serial Ne. 275,820'

6 Claims.

This invention relates to jewelry and ornamental accessories to wearing apparel, and more particularly relates to articles *such as, for example, necklaces, bracelets, brooches, buckles, clips, earrings, combs, barrettes, bobble pins, rings, buttons, slide fastener pull tabs and pins which are adapted to receive and detachably retain a variety of natural or artificial ornaments.

The invention has as a principal object the provision of articles which are adapted to receive interchangeably such ornamental objects as real or artificial flowers, real or artificial vegetables -and the like, -so thatthe appearance, color and style of the articles may be varied as desired to match or contrast with the ensemble of the wearer.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the disclosure hereinafter of typical forms of articles embodying the invention.

Articles of jewelry and ornamental accessories, embodying the present invention, are characterized by the inclusion of a supporting element such as a chain, cord, strap, ribbon, pin, clip, button, or the like, on which is mounted one or more gripping or piercing elements for receiving real or artificial flowers, real or artificial known types of novelty jewelry and ornamental accessories. For example, a necklace having a plurality of gripping elements thereon may bev used to support a number of flowers, thus, in efiect, providing the wearer with a necklace of flowers of any desired type or color combination. The. flowers may be changed to match the costume of the wearer and thus one necklace may serve the purpose of a plurality of the types of necklaces heretofore known. Likewise, bracelets, buckles, buttons, clips,

. brooches having such clips attached thereto facilitate the preparation of corsages or other floral ornaments and allow great latitude in the selection of color, design or type of the ornamcnts, as well as being capable of repeateduse.

combs, earrings or For a better understanding of the present invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a view of a typical form of necklace or bracelet embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of one of the clips which is shown asgreatly enlargedto permit illustration of the details of the clip;

Figure 3 is a view in section of the clip taken on line 3-4 of Figure 2 and showing, in dotted .lines, a flower retained by the clip;

Figure 4 is a view in section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a scarf or lapel pin suitable for retaining a flower; and

Figure 6 is a front view of a bar pin or brooch embodying the invention.

The form of the invention shown-in Figure 1 consists of a chain l to which are attached a plurality of clips II, which are adapted to receive artificial or real flowers l2, or any other ornamental small object. While the device disclosed in Figure 1 includes a chain II), it will be, understood that a cord, ribbon, tape, strap, or any other flexible typeof supporting device may be used with equal facility.

The clips II which are best shown in Figures 2 to 4, include a ring element l3 which may be connected to a link of the chain I0 and which passes through an aperture I in a, bifurcated element i to which .the jaws I6 and I! of the clip are connected. The jaws l6 and I! are substantially identical and include manually engageable wing elements iii of concave-convex cross section from which project spaced flanges l9 and 20. The flanges I9 and 20 of the jaws l6 and I1 overlap and are provided with apertures for receiving a pivot pin 2| which is fixed in any suit- 321a way in the arms of the bifurcated mem- Joined to the lower ends of the wings l8 of the clip are U-shaped pins 22 which have opposed mwardly directed and, preferably, overlapping piercing points 22a. If desired, the jaws l6 and I! may be provided with a plurality of piercing points. The piercing points are normally retained in overlapping relationship by means of a coil spring 23 wound around the pivot pin 21 and having outwardly directed ends 24 and 25 which engage within the concave-convex wings l8 and urge the piercing points 22a together.

The clips ll may be opened by squeezing the wings l8. The flower l2, for example, or a portion thereof may be disposed between the piercing points 22, the wings l8 released, and the points pin may include an elongated pin ,The clips may be disposed in such close relationship that the flowers overlap and form a substantially solid cluster around the entire extent of the chain. By selecting and using various combinations of colors, or types of ornaments, the appearance of the necklace or bracelet may be changed at will in accordance with the whims of the wearer.

The invention may also be embodied in scarf pins or boutonniere holders of the type shown in Figure 5. As illustrated in Figure 5, the scarf element 26 having a pair of spaced outwardly projecting lugs 21 and 28 thereon, between which are. mounted the jaws l6 and ll for piercing a flower and retain'ing it on the pin element 26. The pin may be inserted in the lapel or in the scarf, as desired, and affords a ready means for attaching a flower to a scarf or lapel.

As shown in Figure 6, the invention may take the form of a bar pin, brooch, ornamental buckle or clip and may consist of a backing member 29 having a plurality of the clips I I supported thereon. Any suitable means such as a pin or clasp (not shown) may be mounted on the backing member 29 to facilitate its attachment to wearing apparel. In this form of the invention the pivot pins 2| of the clips ll may be fixed in the backing member 29 with the releasing wings 18 of the jaw members i6 and l1 disposed in the rear of the backing member 29. This type of jewelry or accessory likewise'facilitates the assembly of various combinations of colors and objects and allows the apppearance of the pin, brooch, or buckle to be varied at will.

It will be understood that the forms of the invention described above are illustrative, only, and that other shapes and forms of jewelry and ornamental accessories such as combs, earrings, rings, barrettes, buttons, etc., may be provided with ornament retaining clips without departing from the invention. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention described above should not be considered as limiting the scope of the following claims,

I claim:

1. In an article of jewelry, the combination of a flexible member adapted to be worn as an ornament, a plurality of gripping devices suspended from said flexible member and adapted to detachably receive and retain natural and artificial ornaments, said gripping devices comprising a pair of pivotally connected pins having opposed piercing points, spring means normallyurging said piercing points toward each other, and manually operable means for moving said piercing points apart. I

2. In an article of jewelry, the combination of a pin element insertable in wearing apparel, a pair of spaced lugs projecting from adjacent one end of said element, a pair of pins pivotally mounted on said lugs and provided with opposed piercing points and means for urging said piercing points together for penetrating and retaining an artificial or natural ornament.

3. In a holder for a boutonniere, the combination of an element insertable in a coat lapel, a pair of spaced lugs projecting from said element, a pivot member mounted in said lugs, a pair of pins having opposed piercing points pivotaliy mounted on said pivot member, spring means engageable with said pins for urging said piercing points together and means on the pins for moving said piercing points apart.

4. In an article of jewelry, the combination of a brooch having a body portion attachable to wearing apparel, and a plurality of gripping elements mounted on said brooch, said gripping elements comprising a pair of pivotally connected pins having opposed piercing points, means for for manually separating said piercing points.

5. In an article foruse as a part of or an accessory to wearing apparel, the combination of a supporting member adapted to be worn and at least one gripping device thereon comprising a pair of pivotally connected pins having opposed piercing points adapted to penetrate and detachurging said piercing points together and means 

